in bloom. | a lee juyeon love story.

III.

Iseul has adapted a new habit of taking the walkie talkie with her everywhere.

While her parents were staying home for the day, she made plans of her own to visit the famous turtle-shaped rock by the water. Aeri had texted her about a number of different tourist attractions that she should see while she was in the area, and Iseul would rather spend the day doing exactly that instead of moping around in bed all day. It would help her get her mind off things, which is what she desperately needed.

Despite her mind being occupied by the limited transportation options in the area, Iseul couldn't stop thinking about the walkie talkie she had shoved in her handbag earlier that morning. The conversation didn't exactly end on the best note, although she didn't mean for it to. She'd wanted to apologise and explain she didn't mean to be so hard on him— that she'd just been tired from a long day. But the next time she hears his voice, it's like nothing had ever happened.

He was singing again. A familiar tune, like one of the songs she used to listen to when she studied. It was so comforting to hear, but she didn't need him to know that just yet.

"What are you up to today?"

"Don't you have class today?"

"Nope. Tired of me already?"

Iseul doesn't answer that. "I'm trying to check out this place my friend wants me to see."

"Where are you right now?"

"Geochang-gun."

She almost hesitates to answer. She would've been like one of those girls in the movies who gave away her location to some crazy online psychopath or serial killer. But this Juyeon guy seemed far from that. For now, at the very least.

"Wait, how does the signal reach that far?"

"I've actually never thought of that."

Iseul finds her communication tool with Juyeon quite convenient. She doesn't need to look down like anyone usually does when they text a friend back. All she needed to do was flip a switch or hold down a button and speak into her earphones' microphone. It was like he was there with her the entire time.

The trip to the so-called tourist attraction was very much a hike. Iseul had taken one of the earliest buses that took her out of town towards the region. But even then, she had to somehow find a taxi to take her another twenty minutes down the road. Perhaps there had been easier ways to reach that destination, but Iseul didn't do a lot of research beforehand and just settled for any form of transportation available.

After what felt like walking a thousand miles, Iseul finally reached Suseungdae. And it was a lot more beautiful than anyone had described. There was water surrounding the famous rock— a very unique, structure in similar shape to a turtle. Since it had been a weekday, it was almost like Iseul had the place all to herself.

"It's so pretty here, Juyeon."

"I've never been to the country before . . . So you're a country girl, right?"

"Not quite," Iseul corrected him, "I pretty much grew up in Seoul, remember?"

"Oh, right . . . When are you coming back here anyway?"

Iseul finds herself a little distracted by the view. She sits herself on top of the rock, pulling out her phone to capture a few photographs to show her parents later. Oh, she wanted to stay here forever.

"I wish you could see all this." she says in almost a mumble. She didn't know if she was too embarrassed to say it or if it was a bit too soon to admit. She didn't want Juyeon to get the wrong idea, either.